Built during a time when the station wagon met the needs of most families on the go, Jeep’s four-door Wagoneer held a prestigious position in a niche market of what we now call the Sport Utility Vehicle or SUV. This 1975 Jeep Wagoneer in Audubon, Minnesota also features the top-shelf QuadraTrac four-wheel-drive system with a clutch varying power sent to the front wheels as needed. In the days when blizzard conditions usually resulted in someone barking at one of the kids to “Get out and lock the hubs!” this was true luxury. QuadraTrac also virtually eliminated the confusing crop of shift levers sprouting from the transmission tunnel. This Wagoneer wears original paint and hasn’t been regularly driven in 30 years. Its engine turns over but does not start, which may be just as well until it can be properly prepared to run. Just throwing in a battery, spraying starting fluid down the carb, and twisting the key can ruin an otherwise well-preserved engine if a stuck ring carves out its vengeance on the inside of a cylinder wall. The V8 and three-speed automatic transmission should be easy to maintain assuming they can be resuscitated. The listing here on eBay has attracted at least six bidders and a market value above $3800.
Tinted windows and under-dash air conditioning add to the upscale feeling of the Wagoneer. The center glove compartment offers easy driver access. While heated, cooled, and massaging seats were still a decade or more away, the Wagoneer offered wagon-like comforts with the assurance of four-wheel drive. Some QuadraTrac systems offered low-range and some did not. I’m assuming no lever = no low range but maybe one of our resident experts can help decode this one’s options in the comments below. The vacuum-operated transfer case lock could be on the dashboard. One of my Boy Scout leaders owned one of these in white with the wood grain sides. On a ride to an epic day of toboggan riding I remember thinking how luxurious it looked inside. Powering down an unplowed road, the mellow V8 exhaust note sounded powerful and unstoppable. I don’t need a 4×4 this big, but if I did, I’d gladly drive this one.
The power rear window either works or got stuck part-way open. Safety Green may not be everyone’s favorite but it definitely makes a statement. Few purists would suggest preserving the checked white side panels. Trailer towing would be just another day in of the life of a Wagoneer.
The 360 cid (5.9L) V8 made up to 220 HP (4 bbl and dual exhaust) with around 300 lb-ft of torque, according to Wikipedia. Modern trucks nearly double those numbers, but for normal duties and most towing, this Wagoneer will get the job done. HotRod made 470 HP and 470 lb-ft of torque from a 360 if power floats (or pulls) your boat. I have no idea what this truck is worth, but say bidding goes to $5000. Dollar for dollar, any investment in this classic SUV will probably come back to you compared to a ragged out $5000 SUV from the ’90s or early 2000s. You’ll never have ABS or traction control, but throw a set of good tires on this QuadraTrac beast and you’ll definitely make it to Grandma’s house. Would you take a chance on this classic Wagoneer?
Either the seller change there mind or somebody gave the asking price. Not on eBay anymore…
That was quick.🎅
He’s basically a dealer and moves more than a few vehicles. His ads have been featured on this site quite often over the years. I’d bet he took an offer and sold it privately.
Steve R
The quadratrac lever is under the drivers seat, or a switch in the glovebox. Probably in the glovebox in this one, hence the reason the glovebox is in the middle.
high-low range lever is under driver’s seat on trans tunnel, the vacuum knob is in glove box. owned a few of these and pickups
Steve R looks like another slimy flipper. 2 very negative feedback in the last 6 months on a Bronco and a Chevy truck. Wish these guys would stay in Minnesota, leave our western rigs alone.
“Its engine turns over but does not start, which may be just as well until it can be properly prepared to run. Just throwing in a battery, spraying starting fluid down the carb, and twisting the key can ruin an otherwise well-preserved engine if a stuck ring carves out its vengeance on the inside of a cylinder wall.”
If there was a stuck ring, it wouldn’t turn over at all.
All of the J series had glove boxes in the middle a ( and a blank slate on the passenger side ) to facilitate overseas sales of right hand drive, according to what I have read somewhere. The same was true of the older Universal Wagons and pickups of the 50’s. Everything dash / control wise could be mounted on the passenger side. ( rural mail carriers also ordered many rightwheel drives ).
Interesting cracking white side panels. Gives it that rustic look.
I had a ’83 and it had the lever under the driver’s seat.
FWIW- the low range on 75 is located under the dash, just under the fresh air vent knob. It’s a chrome T shaped handle, and if you look closely, it is there.
The floor mounted high low lever came a few years later iirc. The glove box dial switch is only for the EDrive and not High/Low